1/14/21

 Good news!  Some of our friends that we isolated with in the Ragged Islands, Bahamas last spring arrived here in St. Thomas from Bermuda!   So, just after Christmas we've been busy.....

The fort on Hassel Island is a convenient dinghy ride from the anchorage at Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas.  

The fort at Hassel Island

From the fort we can look back at the anchorage.  Notice the empty cruise ship pier to the right.

Here we are (except for Jerry who's taking the picture) - from left Rita's tail, Karen, Chris (Dustyn and Brandon's friend/crew for the Bermuda to St. Thomas passage), Dustyn, Brandon, Charli, Andy, and Devon.

From the downtown anchorage we moved over to Honeymoon Beach anchorage on Water Island.  

Crowded anchorage at Honeymoon!

Another island, another fort.  This one taken from the fort on Water Island.

Then out to Saba Island to snorkel.  Only a couple of miles to the west from Water Island.

Anchored at Saba.  It ended up being just an overnight stop - too rolly!

Andy and Charli brought a bottle of champagne to toast to Brandon and Dustyn.                                                  - their 17th wedding anniversary!

We sit on the rocky beach, sip our champagne, tell stories, slap at the bugs, and watch the sunset.

New Year's was celebrated a couple miles away at Lindberg Bay.  

First toast to New Year's at sunset at the beach at Lindberg Bay.

  Note Persephone, Ada, Avalon, and Pura Vida in the background.

Then dinner and drinks aboard Avalon.  Scrumptious!  We had ribs, beef roast, pork roast, roasted potatoes, rice and carrots, homemade dinner rolls, sautéed fresh mushrooms & zucchini, spinach salad, homemade applesauce....YUM!

The week between Christmas and New Year's we heard a public service announcement every half hour on the local radio station.  It was a warning to not shoot guns into the sky.  The bullets can come down and hurt someone, something, or even kill someone upon impact.  We wondered what that was all about until New Year's Eve.  We've since learned that the local tradition for years now is to shoot guns into the sky at midnight.  From just before midnight until 1:30 am we heard continual gunshot - shot guns, fully automatic, rifles, all manner of guns.  And lots of them!  We dinghied home just after midnight taking cover in the dinghy best we could, glad to be back on Persephone as the shots continued to ring into the night.  Happy New Year!

What better way to start the new year - our friend Kari and her partner Derek came to Persephone for dinner before we left Lindberg Bay!  A wonderful visit full of laughter, reminiscing, and catching up.

Kari and Karen back together again!  Great to meet Derek!

Next stop for everyone - Christmas Cove.  The Pizza Pi boat that Jerry and I were anchored behind last time we were here is a novelty - where can you order pizza made onboard a boat.  They will even deliver if you want.  We joined everyone aboard Avalon for pizza night...

Pizza Pi pizza aboard Avalon.

The next day we hauled anchor and set sail for St. Croix - about 35 miles south.

A few showers as we leave - Ada is just behind under the rainbow.

Jerry caught a cero (mackerel family) 

and a blackfin tuna!

What to do with all that fish?  Dinner for everyone aboard Persephone for fresh fish!

Brandon slices some of the tuna to make a sashimi appetizer.

Seared tuna for dinner.  Karen, Dustyn, Brandon, Charli, Andy

The next day Andy contacted a car rental place, we all piled into a mini-van, and Brandon chauffeured us around the island (remembering to drive on the left).

Here we are - ready for an island tour!

Point Udall is the eastern most point of the US.

The structure behind us is a sun dial.

Back to Christiansted for lunch at Singhs Fast Food

Outdoor seating by the parking lot.  

This is a chicken roti - a traditional Indian dish.  The wrap is a dough that has Dahl puri (split peas made into a mash with curry and other tasty stuff) in a layer inside the wrap.  Then the wrap contains a stew like substance made with chicken, potatoes, and spices.  Tasty!

Then back to the van with no particular destination in mind.  Brandon and Dustyn decided to try and find West Scenic Drive.  What we found was scenic!  We ended up on a one lane dirt road going up a mountain.

Our view from the back seat!

Jerry took a video......

We found out where we were when taking pictures with our phones.  It labels location: Eagle Hill.

Here we are: Eagle Hill, cell phone tower site

With spectacular views!

We can see forever!

The tour continued through the rainforest type region of the island, down to Frederiksted, onto the Captain Morgan Rum Distillery.  Sadly, this distillery was closed.  Our Captain Morgan (Andy Morgan) will have to come back for a tour of the factory after covid.  We did stop at a distillery on the way home - Sion Farms Distillery where we got a tour and a happy hour drink.  They use breadfruit to make their vodka.  We were the only customers there.

Their operation is visible from their tasting room.  Thanks to Lock One Distillery back home Jerry knew exactly what to ask about their distilling process.

The drinks were good and the water they serve is the best on the island due to the intense water purification method they use to make their vodka.

Back to the boats for a good night's sleep and a sail the next morning to Frederiksted on the west side of St. Croix.

Here's Ada on a perfect day for a downwind sail along the coast of St. Croix.

Looking at the hills of St. Croix.

I think I see Eagle Hill with the cell phone towers in the distance!

We anchored near the cruise ship pier in Frederiksted and walked the town.  I went snorkeling on the pilings of the pier and saw my first seahorse!  The beaches along Frederiksted are perfect for looking for seaglass.  The waves wrap around the north end of the island and make their way to crash along the shores.  Every day the bits of glass gets tumbled.  We found seaglass and also found that those waves make for a rolly anchorage.  After a few days we said goodbye to Ada and Avalon and set sail for St. John.  Another beautiful trade wind sail, 10-15 knots just forward of the beam.  No fish this time but a nice sail.  Just before sunset we put the anchor down just off Hansen Beach on St. John between a couple of large charter yachts.

Sailing to St. John

Here's the video version of sailing to St. John...

Persephone anchored at Hansen Beach, St. John

We've found a new favorite spot!  We're protected from the swells, it's peaceful and surrounded by the hills of St. John.  Charter boats come in to anchor, they stay for a night, and are off the next day.  The number of charter boats sailing around the US Virgin Islands is at an all time high due to the British Virgin Islands being closed.  The BVI has always been The Place to rent a boat for a vacation but not during covid.  It's nice to find a place that's not as busy as the other anchorages we've stayed at.

We'll hang out here for a bit with hopes to catch up with our friends when they sail back from St. Croix.

Karen and Jerry

12/24/20

 Wishing you health and happiness for the holiday season and 2021 from Christmas Cove, St. Thomas.

We've been anchored in the same spot for a couple of weeks!  It's a popular place - every day charter boats come and go, the Pizza Pi boat (which we're downwind from) creates wonderful aromas for us, and the sun shines.

We have an unobstructed view of the sunset from here.

Anchored in Christmas Cove - mainland St. Thomas off the in distance.

We've had mostly sun, some showers, and plenty of rainbows.

This is our water catcher we've used a few times with the heavier showers.  Nothing like fresh rainwater!

Send news when you can!

Karen & Jerry

SV Persephone

December 2020

 

Wild ponies on Carrot Island, Beaufort, NC.

Our sail from Beaufort, NC to St. Thomas - a record 8 days!  With light winds we motor sailed across the Gulf Stream.  As luck would have it there were 2 other boats within 100 miles of us heading to the Caribbean and calling Chris Parker's weather routing service on the single side band radio.  We listened as Chris Parker said to make a rhumb line for your destination in the Caribbean as the winds would be turning to the NE and N by mid-week.  No need to make our initial "easting" towards Bermuda as we usually do turning south once approaching 65 degree longitude.  Our normal route that sets us up for easterly trades.  But no need to do that this year.  

Jerry took 3 videos during the passage but they're too long to fit on this post.  Click this link for the first video: 1st Video

We barreled on in a southeasterly direction for 3 days before we decided we were going to have to turn up into the wind in order to not end up in The Bahamas.  No northeast or north winds yet.  A low pressure system off Bermuda set up 10-12 foot swells that broke over the cabin top covering everything with salt and made us grab for hand holds when moving around on the boat.  We encountered a couple days of squall after squall which means continued reefing the sails. 

Here is the link for the second video: 2nd Video

We added a lee cloth to the port cushion in the salon to keep from falling off onto the floor as we sail!  Nothing like a good book to put you to sleep when you're not on watch.

Link for the last video: 3rd Video

Our last day of sailing was perfect!  The seas had calmed down, the wind finally backed to the northeast and the sun came out!  Our salt encrusted boat had been rinsed clean with all the rain.  St. Thomas, first a twinkle of lights poking up on the horizon, came into view as the sun came up.  So different than approaching The Bahamas where the land is flat and low lying.  St. Thomas and the outlying islands jut up into the sky covered in green.

Water Island, just off St. Thomas,  our home-away-from-home for many years beckoned us.  It was more crowded than usual.  Every Thanksgiving a fleet of big sport fishing boats from Puerto Rico invade the island.  They anchor along the beach with their bows facing out and sterns anchored towards the beach.  A festive atmosphere for 2 bedraggled sailors!  We prepared a late Thanksgiving day meal with turkey, stuffing and the works listening to latin music blaring and people celebrating all around us.  Thankful to be here!

Persephone anchored at Water Island (sport fishing boats from Puerto Rico went home).

Persephone at Water Island, Honeymoon Beach in the background.

November 2020

 From NY to Norfolk - Plenty of wind from the NW when we left from Sandy Hook, NJ!  When the wind died down we had to motor sail down towards the Chesapeake.  We were entertained by a couple of birds that hopped onboard for part of the trip. They must have been blown out to sea with the high winds..

This bird hopped all over the boat inside and out!

We've never had a Yellow Flicker onboard before. 

After a brief stop in Norfolk we continued south.

The Albemarle Sound was like glass - 

After crossing the Albemarle we anchored at East Lake at the top of the Alligator River.  

Nothing here except trees and birds….or so we thought. 

Sunset at East Lake, Alligator River

  Just before dark the boat was covered with some kind of bug.  Not a biting bug just a nuisance bug!  They covered the screen over our aft hatch and we could hear the flutter of their wings as if a fan were on!  In the morning the decks and bimini were covered with green spots where the bugs died and left a stain.  So as Jerry got the sail up and headed down the Alligator River I worked on cleaning the boat.

On to Broad Creek to Donna and Jerry’s………..

Wing on wing on the Neuse River down to Broad Creek

We’ve had a fantastic time, as usual, here at Donna and Jerry’s.   Time to visit and spend time with Jerry and Donna.  And plenty of time to work on projects (cleaning winches, changing the oil in the engine, repairing our wind instrument (you know - the cuppy spinny thingy on the top of the mast), cleaning, stocking up on supplies, rebuilding a water pump, making a new cover for the dinghy, replacing our toilet base, working on outboard motors, and more.   Persephone has had more TLC this summer/fall than ever!

Jerry and I in the cockpit cleaning winches.

We always try to find ways to help out with Donna and Jerry’s projects if we can.  They're preparing Bluejacket to sail south to The Bahamas for the winter.   Our first winter in some time where we won't be together!

My sister Susan flew in from Maine and we’re patiently waiting for a weather window to head to the Virgin Islands.

Susan focuses on cracking nuts........

Susan and I picked up pecans from the tree near the town dock in Oriental.  It takes a long time to crack all those nuts!  We got out the cheese, crackers, and wine while we sat cracking nuts.  We ended up with almost 3 pounds of pecans that we vacuum packed to keep them fresh.

Our friends on SV Ada, Dustyn and Brandon with Rita the black lab arrived here at the Luh’s.  (Dustyn performed the wedding we attended in the Ragged Islands - you can see the ceremony on SV Delos' Youtube Channel Here's the link).  

Playing cards aboard Ada with Brandon and Dustyn

Our hostesses with the mostest!  Donna and Jerry host a dinner when Ada arrives.  

Susan in the kayak with Luh's dock in the background.   Look at all the boats!  Persephone, Ada,  Hi Flite, Bluejacket, Dyad.

And another boat from our time in the Ragged Island, Hi Flite, arrived with Cori and Dale aboard.  We’ve been so fortunate to be able to keep in touch and even meet up with the boats from our “covid crew” we quarantined with down in the Ragged Islands! 

Our social bubble group at Luh's - each couple at the table has a boat at the dock.

Jerry and Brandon work on Brandon’s Torqeedo - his electric outboard motor.

 

The resident blue heron landed on the dock between Persephone and Ada!   Jerry and Cori have the best view - they're standing on the dock about 8 feet from where it landed.

We are patiently waiting for a weather window (with no east winds!) to head out across the Gulf Stream and to the Caribbean.  Maybe Thursday or Friday next week?   You'll have to keep checking SPOT to see if we've left.  We love to hear news of what's going on with you and your family!

PS. Please make sure your contact list shows me as kpakk25 or kpack8888 at yahoo.  As you already know, someone used my contact list to send out requests for money.  Sorry for any troubles it caused.